Homelessness Week is a national event held each year during the first week of August, which aims to raise awareness of people experiencing homelessness, the issues they face and the actions needed to achieve enduring solutions.
“Both the Tasmanian theme for Homelessness Week 2022 – Housing Ends Homelessness – and the national theme – To end homelessness we need a plan – make it clear that homelessness is only solved when we all have a secure home that we can afford,” Shelter Tas CEO, Pattie Chugg said.
“The Housing Ends Homelessness theme amplifies the Shelter Tas message that to solve the homelessness crisis, we need to increase affordable rentals like social housing from the current 6% to 10% of all dwellings. It is a simple message – Housing First!
“Too many Tasmanians are facing the cold reality of housing stress and homelessness this winter. Homelessness Week is more than just another week on the calendar, as we know that people are living with housing hardship and homelessness every day of the year. Homelessness Week 2022 is aimed at raising community awareness, and highlighting the work that homelessness services do every day,” Ms Chugg said.
The 2016 Australian Census showed that on any given night in Tasmania over 1 600 people were homeless. This could mean staying on the couch or floor in someone else’s home, sleeping on the streets, or struggling to get by in insecure, overcrowded or inappropriate accommodation.
“As the whole community experiences the impacts of winter cold, flu and COVID-19 it is an urgent priority to reduce and eliminate homelessness in Tasmania, and find housing solutions for all Tasmanians.
“With the cost of living pressures and rising rents, compared to people’s incomes, more and more Tasmanians know someone who is finding it hard to find the home they need, or are living with housing hardship themselves,” Ms Chugg said.
This year, Homelessness Week includes a wide range of activities and events, including purple lights – the colour of homelessness awareness – for the first time. Keep a look out around Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Ulverstone, as public buildings and landmarks will be illuminated purple all week.
There are digital and live events including films, breakfasts, walks and exhibitions where people can learn more about homelessness in the community, and hear the stories of people with lived experience of homelessness.
As the peak body for housing and homelessness, Shelter Tas co-ordinates the planning for Homelessness Week in Tasmania, and showcases the Tasmanian events calendar on our website. A summary is below, and more details are at www.sheltertas.org.au – remember to check for any last-minute updates!
“Homelessness Week draws attention to the wide range of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Tasmania and around the country. In the last 12 months, our 50 Specialist Homelessness Services supported over 6 600 clients. On any given day, Tasmanian agencies were supporting 2 100 people. Of those receiving assistance and support, over 500 were young people aged between 15 and 24, and 240 were children in families.
“Most concerning is that on an average day in Tasmania last year, there were 46 requests for assistance that homelessness crisis services and emergency shelters were unable to meet. This number has increased from 36 unassisted requests each day in the previous year.
“Homelessness is far more common than people think. Of the 1 600 people counted in the last Census, only 8% were sleeping rough. We need to consider the remaining 92% of people who are unseen and rarely thought about, who are living in insecure, temporary, overcrowded and unsafe places.
“For women and children, family violence is a major cause of homelessness, and the reason for one third of requests to Specialist Homelessness Services. Tasmania’s current private rental market offers very few affordable and secure options for women and children who need to leave a violent situation; as well as for women aged over 55 – the fastest growing demographic group of people facing homelessness, due to lower incomes and resources,” Ms Chugg said.
Shelter Tas would like to thank and acknowledge our member organisations, Specialist Homelessness Services, not-for-profit Community Housing Providers and all those who work towards ending homelessness. Even more importantly, we acknowledge all our fellow Tasmanians who have experienced, or who are currently experiencing homelessness, housing stress and housing insecurity.
Everyone can support Homelessness Week on social media by using the hashtags #HW2022, #HousingEndsHomelessness, #YIMBYTAS, #EverybodysHome. You can wear purple to show your support for Homelessness Week, or use the information on the Shelter Tas website to start a conversation.
Pattie Chugg, Shelter Tas CEO is available for interviews from 9am, Monday 1 August 2022
Ph: 0419 536 100
E: ceo@sheltertas.org.au
For more information and the full Homelessness Week events calendar, see www.sheltertas.org.au/homelessness-week-2022/, or below for a selection of #HW2022 events:
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Single Day Events in Homelessness Week 2022
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Mon 1st August
from 9:30am
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Minister Barnett’s official welcome to HW 2022 (www.sheltertas.org.au)
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Mon 1st August
11:00 - 12:15
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Homelessness Week national launch (online)
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CatholicCare Morning Tea (Launceston Town Hall)
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Tues 2nd August
7:30 - 8:30
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Vinnies Breakfast (Queens Domain, Hobart)
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Tues 2nd August
2:00 - 3:00
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‘I am Somebody’ launch (North Hobart)
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Tues 2nd August
1:00-2:00
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‘Give Me Shelter’ Webinar (see Eventbrite invitation)
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Australian film Some Happy Day (MA15+), presented by Launceston Benevolent Society (click here for more info)
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Beth House Employability Expo (Hobart Town Hall)
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Thurs 4th August
10:30-12:00
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Walk to raise awareness for Homelessness Week (Starts at Launceston City Park Rotunda at 10:30am, finishes at Royal Park)
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Thurs 4th August
11:00-1:00
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Peace a Pizza, and Screening of I am Somebody (Salvation Army, Main Road Glenorchy)
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Thurs 4th August
2:30-4:30
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Off the Couch, Clarence City Council (Rosny Skate Park, includes Loui’s Van, Salvos outreach and more)
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Fri 5th August
10:00-4:00
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Anglicare Homelessness Awareness (Bunnings Glenorchy Café)
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Fri 5th August
12:30-3:00
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YFCC Homelessness Week luncheon, invitation only (Devonport)
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Hobart City Mission Safe Space Open Day (Safe Space, 47 Davey St)
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Events Running 1-7 August, and beyond
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Homes for All – education program (various locations)
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Homelessness Week and Action August (Glenorchy Council Chambers)
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‘I am Somebody’ exhibition (Various locations and online)
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Lighting Up Tasmania in Purple for Homelessness Week
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Hobart - Franklin Square and wharf area
Launceston – Seaport Bridge, Town Hall
Ulverstone – Leven Bridge
Devonport – Paranaple Convention Centre
Tynwald Park – New Norfolk
Wintringham balcony - Bellerive
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